''300'' (''Three Hundred'') is a heavily stylized BattleEpic movie directed by Creator/ZackSnyder, released in 2007 and [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] a 1998 [[ComicBooks comic miniseries]] by Creator/FrankMiller. In spite of the heavy fantasy influence, the story is [[HistoricalFiction based on real events]]--[[YouShallNotPass the Battle of Thermopylae]] in 480 BC during the [[UsefulNotes/GrecoPersianWars Second Greco-Persian War]], as described by the ancient Greek historian Creator/{{Herodotus}}. Miller was introduced to the Thermopylae story through a 1962 SwordAndSandal movie version called ''Film/The300Spartans'', which influenced him deeply as a child. The comic and film are extreme examples of historical movies being VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory, as artistic license is liberally employed (more so in the film than in the comic).

A young, one-eyed Spartan soldier relates to a group of fellow soldiers [[HowWeGotHere how recent events came to pass]]. King Leonidas of Sparta (Creator/GerardButler) refuses to bow to [[BigBad the God King Xerxes']] demands for Sparta to submit to the vast power of the Persian Empire. Leonidas' visit to the deformed, elderly [[CorruptChurch Ephors]] and their OracularUrchin/Sex Slave brings worse news: Sparta cannot wage war against the armies of Persia on the eve of the sacred Carneia festival.

After much deliberation, Leonidas decides to defy the oracles' prophecies… sort of. He gathers three hundred of Sparta's finest soldiers (referring to them his "personal bodyguard") and marches them to the Hot Gates of Thermopylae, a narrow pass between the ocean and mountains. By rebuilding an ancient wall to bottleneck the vast Persian army, the superior fighting ability of the Spartans would conceivably make up for the small size of their army and give them a fighting chance at holding back the Persian Empire until Sparta's army can launch a full assault. Seven hundred or so other Greeks turn up as Leonidas and the 300 make their way to the Hot Gates, and a [[TheGrotesque hideously deformed Spartan man]] called Ephialtes also joins the convoy to ask Leonidas for a place on the battlefield (in exchange for information about an unguarded path that would leave the Spartans wide open to retaliation from behind). Leonidas refuses to accept Ephialtes into the fighting ranks--it would leave a weak point in their defense--and returns his attention to preparing for the battle.

In the meantime, Queen Gorgo (Creator/LenaHeadey) tries to persuade the Spartan politicians to support Leonidas, but Theron--scarily played by Dominic West--is the most stubborn of the lot.

When the Persian Empire brings its forces down upon the Hot Gates, the battle goes exactly according to Leonidas' plan: the fighting skill and perfect defensive position of the Spartans prove to be too much for even the monstrous Persian army to handle. The kill count becomes obscenely lopsided in favor of the Spartans, and the only real problem occurs when Ephialtes sells his information to Xerxes for women, wealth, and a (horrible) uniform.

The film version of ''300'' is heavily stylized thanks to both its comic book roots and the story itself presented as a [[UnreliableNarrator morale-boosting story told by Dilios]]. While accurate in some historical aspects (mostly quotes), it is presented first and foremost as a visual Greek epic tale of glory, death, and [[RuleOfCool how battling half naked is strategically superior]]. Trying to justify or explain it is as futile as explaining why [[Film/{{Commando}} Matrix]] [[MST3KMantra should face a court-martial for property damage]]. Think of this as ''Film/SinCity'' (also by Creator/FrankMiller) with gold and red instead of white and black… and with far fewer prostitutes.

A midquel/sequel film, ''Film/ThreeHundredRiseOfAnEmpire'', was released in March 2014.----!! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis These! Are! TROPES!]]:[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: [=A–D=]]]* AbsurdlySharpBlade: Both sides hack a lot of limbs and heads off quite cleanly like a hot knife through butter, despite having only iron weapons.* AcousticLicense: At the end of the film, the narrator is revealed to be talking to an army of over thirty thousand men. Somehow, the guys way in the back who are probably half a mile away, hear him perfectly fine.* ActionFilmQuietDramaScene: The scene where [[spoiler: Dilios returns to Sparta as the SoleSurvivor of the 300 and gives Gorgo Leonidas' necklace]] is a short, somber scene that has no dialogue, but the two practically have an entire conversation.* ActuallyPrettyFunny: During one of the arrow bombardments, while the Spartans are under their shields, Antinos starts laughing hysterically. After the punchline, all the Spartans are laughing.-->'''Stelios:''' What the hell are you laughing at?\\'''Astinos:''' Well, you had to say it!\\'''Stelios:''' What?\\'''Astinos:''' "Fight in the shade"!* AdaptationalBadass: Invoked slightly. The original comic was still filled with badasses but the movie version went straight into pure fantasy with monsters and combat feats that defy the laws of physics. The movie was more of a comic book than the comic book.* AdaptationExpansion: The entire Gorgo subplot was created for the movie as were a few fight scenes depicting more fantastic elements (the orc-like monster, the giant rhino, etc.) Also, the Captain's son is a side character in the movie but only had a brief mention in the comic.%%* AdrenalineTime: Used extensively.* AdultFear: The terror in the Captain's voice when he realizes what's about to happen to his son is a very chilling sound that any parent can relate to. * AggressiveNegotiations: What the "This is Sparta!!!" scene amounts to.* AlmostDeadGuy: The kid that delivers a few lines and then [[DiedInYourArmsTonight dies in the hero's arms]].* AlternateDVDCommentary: If you love ''300'' and think it's awesome, you should check out the Podcast/RiffTrax. If you hate ''300'' with the passion of a thousand nations of the Persian Empire, you should ''definitely'' check out the Rifftrax.* AmazonBrigade: Gorgo's attitude and actions suggest that Leonidas wasn't kidding when he said he could march Sparta's women to Thermopylae instead of its men. Spartan women enjoyed more political power than in other Greek city-states, since their husbands were so often off at war. * ArmorIsUseless: The Persian troops wear light armor that serves them well where they come from, but is utterly useless against wall of phalanx and spears in real life, although here is 300 half naked men with shields and mostly swords and some spears.* ArtisticLicense: As Creator/FrankMiller put it, he doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good story. Neither does [[UnreliableNarrator Dilios]], who is clearly embellishing the tale more with each retelling.* ArtisticLicenseHistory: So much that it comes with [[ArtisticLicenseHistory/ThreeHundred its own article.]]* AscendedExtra: Queen Gorgo, a very minor character in the comics with not so much screen-time, is the {{Deuteragonist}} of the movie.* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: Leonidas creates a massive wall to block the Persians with the dead acting as the bricks... and the mortar... and the fill.* AttackAttackRetreatRetreat: ''"Those in the rear cry, 'Forward!' Those in front cry, 'baaaaack!'"''* AutobotsRockOut* AuthorTract: Critics have argued a lot about [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical whether or not]] the film is an allegorical author tract, whose tract it is, and who represents what.* AwesomeButImpractical: The war rhino is certainly quite impressive, but [[spoiler:it gets killed by a well thrown spear before it even has a chance to reach the Spartan front line.]] Furthermore the war elephants, which the Spartans manage to push off the cliff. [[note]]A scene maybe inspired by [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Heinrich_Leutemann_-_Hannibals_Übergang_über_die_Alpen.jpg this]] picture, concerning another war in Antiquity.[[/note]]* AxeCrazy: ** Every other Greek believes the Spartans to be this. They aren't wrong…** The Uber-Immortal is a literal example, as he wields an axe.* BackToBackBadasses: Stelios and Astinos.* BadassArmy: ** The Spartans, who are portrayed as suicidally infatuated with carnage and glory. ** Subverted by the Immortals, who were never defeated in Xerxes' army of a thousand nations, but become an army of mooks when they meet the Spartans.* BadassBeard: Leonidas is the most prominent example.* BadassBoast: There is a reason the term "laconic wit" was named for the Spartans. They had a deep cultural love for pithy, badass statements. And the movie is chock-full of them.** As recorded/invented by Plutarch: Leonidas' laconic reply, [[OlderThanTheyThink "Come and get them!"]] when the Persians demand that the Spartans surrender their weapons. The original Greek, "Molōn labe", is the motto of the Greek I Army Corps, as well as the United States Special Operations Command Central.** Another example, taken straight from Creator/{{Herodotus}}, is when the Spartans are warned that the Persian army is so great, its arrows will blot out the Sun. A Spartan soldier casually replies, "Then we will fight in the shade."** Gorgo's reply to the messenger's query of why she dared to speak in the presence of men "Because only Spartan women give birth to real men" was something she said, although historically she said it to a visiting Athenean lady, not a Persian messenger.** Leonidas alludes to his historical response during the conversation with the Persian Messenger. In reality, his actual response to the Persian's demands for "[[ExactWords Earth and Water]]", was to politely inform them that they could "[[LoopholeAbuse dig it out for themselves!]]" ''Then'' he threw them down the well!** Leonidas asks the Arcadian soldiers what their professions are, then turns to his own men.-->'''Leonidas''': [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIr8u0j08gU SPARTANS! What is your profession?]]-->'''Spartans''': [raise their spears] ARROOH! ARROOH! ARROOH!-->'''Leonidas''': You see, old friend? I've brought more soldiers than you did.** On the first day of battle, after fighting off the first wave of enemies: "TODAY, NO SPARTAN DIES!" [[spoiler:They succeed that day.]]* BadassCape: The Spartan army.* BaldOfEvil: Xerxes again.* BeautyEqualsGoodness: The Ephors are grotesque, lecherous and corrupt. Many of the villainous Persians are freakish and inhuman. Ephialtes betrays his fellow Spartans when they do not accept him for his deformity.* TheBerserker: The Uber-Immortal.* BigBad: Xerxes of course.* BigGood: Leonidas of course.* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Leonidas and his 300 (save for Dillios) are dead. But their HeroicSacrifice inspires all Greece to unite against the Persian invaders.]]* BlackDudeDiesFirst: Messenger from Xerxes in the beginning of the movie.* BladeBelowTheShoulder: The Persian executioner has blades replacing his arms.* BlatantLies: "I thought to take a short stroll. These three hundred soldiers are my personal bodyguard." The counselors clearly know he is lying, but can't do anything about it.* BlockingStopsAllDamage: The film takes this to parodic levels. Anything behind the shields is basically invulnerable.* BloodFromTheMouth: Captain Artemis is spitting blood immediately after being speared during the FinalBattle.* BloodKnight: The Spartans '''are''' history's definitive example of this. Throughout the film, we get to see that the rest of the Greek forces are somewhat terrified that the Spartans are ''enjoying'' themselves too much.* BloodlessCarnage: Despite the viseral nature of the film, whenever a sword slashes an enemy blood goes everywhere but never hits the ground. It just disperses and never leaves a stain.* BolivianArmyEnding: The movie ends in the same manner as the comic book on which it was based, showing the Greek army charging towards an inconclusive battle at Platea. Historically, the battle was a Greek victory, and this outcome is heavily implied by the narrator. * BottomlessPit: Where the Spartans threw the Persian messenger who demanded their surrender. It's supposed to be a well, and the scene based on the historcal account of the Spartans telling the emissary to dig out their tribute of earth and water themselves.* {{Bowdlerise}}: Male genitalia appeared in the graphic novel, while all male characters wear at least their codpieces in the film.* CasualDangerDialogue: Astinos and Stelios, while covering from a ''hail'' of arrows.--> *Astinos laughs*--> '''Stelios''': "What the hell are you laughing at?"--> '''Astinos''': "Well, you had to say it!"--> '''Stelios''': "What?"--> '''Astinos''': "Fight in the shade!"--> *Several Spartans join Stelios and Astinos in laughter while arrows continue to fall** ChromaKey: All but one shot were done in a Montreal soundstage in front of a blue screen.* ConservationOfNinjitsu: 300 vs 1,000,000. There were a few thousand Arcadians but they get three seconds of screentime.* CrucifiedHeroShot: [[spoiler:Leonidas assumes this pose as he faces a torrential downpour of arrows that kill him, and we eventually see his corpse in this pose.]]* CulturalPosturing: Leonidas and Xerxes exchange proud statements about their cultures during their first meeting.* DeadpanSnarker: Leonidas when he's not in large ham mood. An example would be, in response to Xerxes saying the two could share their culture if allied, "[[ProudWarriorRaceGuy We've been sharing our culture with you all morning]]."* DecapitationPresentation: As noted in the page quote, the Persian messenger tries to intimidate Leonidas with a sackful of the severed heads of those who refused his offer.* DefiantStoneThrow: Leonidas' [[spoiler: final attack]] is a purely symbolic gesture. * DefiantToTheEnd: The Spartans. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Xerxes when he first meets Leonidas.-->'''Xerxes''': "Yours is a fascinating tribe. Even now you are defiant, at the face of annihilation, and at the presence of a god".* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The Spartans are portrayed overall as good guys, but the story still contains reminders of their bloodlust. It opens with one of them lovingly describing mass ritual infanticide (which [[TruthInTelevision actually happened]], by the way).* DenOfIniquity: Xerxes' royal pavilion, filled with drugged courtiers, freaks and all forms of sex. Xerxes throws such a swingin' party that even [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet Baphomet]] shows up.* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: ''"Only the hard and strong may call themselves Spartans. Only the hard… only the strong…"''* {{Determinator}}: The Spartans could count as a reconstructed example of this. They likely knew they couldn't defeat all the Persians. But in the end and historically, the victories they got inspired the other Greek states to unite against the Persians.* DeusExMachina: Subverted. The Spartans celebrate when a storm hits the Persian ships only for the rest of the fleet to arrive the next morning[[note]]The Spartans are happy about this turn of events because it would mean that the Persian fleet would have to land away from Thermopylae and attack their position, rather than landing ''at'' Thermopylae and overwhelming the Spartans with sheer numbers, or simply landing past them. The storm means the Spartans get to fight[[/note]].* DiagonalCut: Horizontal, but the same effect.* DiedInYourArmsTonight: The little boy who survived his village getting sacked by the Persian Immortals [[AlmostDeadGuy survived long enough]] to die in Leonidas' arms. The pose of the dead child in his arms doubles as a PietaPlagiarism.* DiesWideOpen: Leonidas himself.* DisneyVillainDeath: ** The Persian messenger ends up being kicked into the well, shortly after the infamous dialogue between him and Leonidas.** ''"Well, let's give them something to drink. To the cliffs!"''* DoesNotLikeShoes: Although it's difficult to see due to the speed of the scenes, the Immortals go barefoot. Considering that one of them dropkicked a Spartan soldier while fighting, the lack of footwear could be a choice for more agility.* DoomedMoralVictor: A [[InsistentTerminology 300-man bodyguard]] of those.* DreamCrushingHandicap: Sorry Ephilates, but you're too deformed to join the 300 Spartans.* DualWielding: The Immortals, whose main weapons are a pair of katana-like swords.* DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:The 300-man troop making a LastStand against the Persians, while Leonidas hurls a spear at Xerxes, cutting his cheek open, basically telling him "'God-King' my ass!", before standing alone and single-handedly facing an onslaught of arrows.]][[/folder]]

[[folder: [=E–M=]]]* EliteMooks: The Immortals. They don't fare much better than regular mooks, but they are the first ones to kill Spartans.* EasyLogistics: Each of 300 Spartans only bring cape, loincloth, spear, shield and some helm in them. There's no mention of incoming and delivering foods, tents or blankets to them. Yet, they fight for more than a week with high spirits.* TheEmpire: The Persians.* EqualOpportunityEvil: The legions of Xerxes are from all over the world (including Africa and Japan, apparently), and he even hires hunchbacks, which is TruthInTelevision, as the Persians had territory in the Middle East, parts of India (or at least Pakistan), and also ruled Egypt. The Greeks, however, were all… Greek.* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Captain Artemis as "Captain".* EvilCripple: Ephialtes, the deformed, treacherous hunchback. While the deformities themselves were added by the adaptation, he's also portrayed more sympathetically than the classical myths show him as. He's depicted as a Spartan outcast who was only saved from being killed in his infancy by his compassionate parents. When he tries to offer his services to King Leonidas he is shot down[[note]]Not even out of hate, either, but for practical reasons: Ephialtes is confirmed as a strong ''individual'' warrior, but his deformity prevents him from lifting a shield to stand in the shield wall, making him a liability as a soldier in a group[[/note]], leading to a switch to the Persian camp that reads less like a FaceHeelTurn and more like a moment of ThenLetMeBeEvil. In the sequel, he is deeply remorseful for his betrayal.* EvilIsBigger: Emperor Xerxes is a nine feet tall androgynous God-King, towering over both his opponent King Leonidas [[LargeAndInCharge and his own men]].* EvilLaugh:** The Persian emissary who bribed Theron and the Ephors to betray Sparta in exchange for Persian riches laughs diabolically.** Stelios.* EvilOverlord: Persian King Xerxes [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade is portrayed as this]], becoming the evil GodEmperor of an invading empire trying to bring the [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade "freedom-loving Greeks"]] to [[KneelBeforeZod bow down to him]]. The Immortals are outright stated to have served the "dark will" of Persian Kings for centuries. He rules his subjects [[ATasteOfTheLash through the lash]] and [[AGodAmI his divine power]], and the fact that half of his warriors are monsters and dark sorcerors leaves no doubt about how evil his empire is.* EvilPlan: The battle at Thermoplyae is triggered by Xerxes' desire to take over Greece. * EvilSoundsDeep: They ''really'' lower Creator/RodrigoSantoro's voice for Xerxes.* EvilWearsBlack: The Persian [[EliteMooks warrior elite]] known as the Immortals wear all-black uniforms with [[FacelessGoons creepy silver masks]]. They're the most dangerous of all of Xerxes's warriors and are soon revealed to ''literally'' be monsters.* ExactWords: The Persian emissary demands that Sparta give the traditional tokens of submission: Earth and Water. Leonidas complies by kicking the emissary down a well. In fact, his historical response before doing so was that they could "[[OlderThanTheyThink dig it out for themselves!]]"** Leonidas tells Xerxes that before the battle is over, the world will know that even a God-king can bleed. During their LastStand, Leonidas makes good on that promise. * EyepatchOfPower: Dilios after losing his eye in the fighting. * EyeScream:** Leonidas stabs the uber-Immortal in the eye with a spearhead. ** Dilios loses an eye during the fighting at the Hot Gates. He quips that it won't hinder him because "the gods saw fit to grace me with a spare."* FaceHeelTurn: Ephialtes wanted to join the spartans but was turned down so he joined Xerxes instead. * FacelessGoons: The Immortals all wear face-concealing silver masks. It turns out that what's underneath is actually much worse, since they're revealed as humanoid monsters with filed-down teeth when one gets his mask blown off by a Spartan.* {{Fanservice}}: An army of muscle-bound men wearing little more than leather straps and loincloths, their bodies lathered with blood and sweat and grime after a long day of slaughtering their enemies, the gratuitous slow-mo that accentuates every hard line of their abs, biceps, and thighs… yeah.* AFatherToHisMen: Leonidas as this exchange proofs:-->'''Xerxes:''' It isn't wise to stand against me, Leonidas. Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory.\\'''King Leonidas:''' And I would die for any one of mine.* FauxAffablyEvil: Xerxes fancied himself as "kind".%% Don't add Five Man Band. 1. There are more than five members in the army. Someone that gets a name does not make them special. 2. They are all soldiers and so they are all powerful and so there is no Big Guy. 3. The Hero is not part of the band, that would be The Leader * FinalSpeech: Given by Delios just before the end of the movie, after which the combined Greek army rushes off to battle.* ForeignMoneyIsProofOfGuilt: The fact that Theron had Persian coins on him when he died served to convince the assembly that he was a traitor.** To clarify, Sparta used iron as currency while Persia (and everyone else) used gold and silver. Persian currency would be useless to Theron unless Persia conquered Sparta.%% All Fridge Logic examples go in Headscratchers.* {{Foreshadowing}}: The last task of Leonidas' agoge when he's a teen, which pits him against a huge wolf, which he traps and kills in a narrow cliff pass. It foreshadows the 300 Spartan warriors doing the same to Xerxes' gigantic army at the Thermopylae.* FriendOrFoe: The Uber-Immortal doesn't have trouble with throwing around his Persian handlers when he is liberated from his chains. In fact, his companions look more worried about him than the Spartans do.* GeniusBruiser: Leonidas shows himself to be a shrewd tactician and leader in addition to being a badass front-line fighter. He also displays full proficiency in [[DeadpanSnarker Laconic wit]].* GenreBlindness: Astinos should have been well-trained enough to know that hearing ''any''one crying out his name in terror would mean he was in imminent danger and take action accordingly. [[spoiler:He loses his head for it.]]* GiantMook: At least two of them are fought in battle. The Persians also use ''elephants''. 300 being what it is, they get pushed into the sea and are never seen again.* GiganticMoon: The moon is extremely huge [[http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/441104609_f1a0ed4338_o.png in the scene where we first see the Oracle's Temple]]. Some say it's a visual metaphor, others say [[RuleOfCool it just looks cool.]]* GlowingEyesOfDoom:** In the scene where the (black) emissary of Xerxes bribes the priests of the oracle; the emissary fades to a silhouette with only his eyes remaining, glowing white.** Also, the eyes of the wolf Leonidas slays for his initiation.* AGodAmI: Xerxes fancies himself a god. The Spartans think this is hilarious.* GodEmperor: Xerxes, reflecting a mistaken belief on the the Greeks' part that ancient Persians supposedly had and explaining why the "making him bleed" bit was so dramatic. The real life Persians were mostly Zoroastrian and thus monotheistic, believing in the divinity of a single deity, Ahura Mazda, and not that of their king.* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Leonidas and Gorgo.* GroinAttack: Gorgo [[spoiler:stabs the corrupt senator in the nuts.]]* HaveIMentionedIAmADwarfToday: It is very important that there is no doubt they are Spartans.* HealItWithFire: One of the soldiers uses a heated spearhead to cauterize the wound of a fellow soldier on the second night.* HeDidntMakeIt: Extreme case. [[spoiler: Few of the Greeks survived]]. Reinforced with the fact that Dilios was the sole survivor to return, making him the deliverer of the bad news.* HeroKiller: Even though they are driven back (during their first encounter), once the [[TheDreaded Immortals]] show up, the Spartans start to die.* TheHeroDies: Leonidas and all 300 Spartans, with the sole exception of Dilios, die in battle. * HeroicSacrifice: The eponymous three hundred Spartans are doing this; they're under no illusion that they can actually win.* HistoricalBeautyUpdate: Inverted. We don't know exactly what the real Ephialtes of Trachis looked like, but he almost certainly wasn't the deformed wretch he is in this movie.* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: The Spartans were not this heroic in real life.* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: The Persians were not this villainous in real life. * HoistByHisOwnPetard: The Uber Immortal gets his head cut off by his own sword.* HollywoodCostuming: The Spartans are dressed in loincloths save for their helmets and shields. This was based on the Greek fondness for athletic male figures in artwork, which fitted in well with Frank Miller's superhero comic background. * HomeGuard: The Arcadians are presented as such, having various professions and taking up arms when needed, in contrast to the Spartans, who take soldiering as their profession.* HonorBeforeReason: As Leonidas would put it: -->'''Leonidas:''' "No retreat, no surrender…" ''That'' is Spartan Law. And '''by'' Spartan Law, we will stand and '''''fight''''! …and die…* HopeSpot: Leonidas's plan to concentrate the Spartan heavy infantry at a natural choke point works so well that they slaughter wave after wave of Persians, and they even manage to push back the much-hyped Persian EliteMooks (the Immortals) with minimal losses. Leonidas knows and accepts that he has come here to die, and knows that they have not just a small chance, but ''zero'' chance of holding off the vast Persian army forever. But after managing to beat back the Immortals, even though he didn't say anything, Delios observed that he could see a glint of hope in Leonidas's eyes - desperate, mad hope - but Leonidas spent all night visibly struggling to will it away, tormented with what he intellectually knew to be false hope. * HufflepuffHouse: The Arcadians who come help the Spartans.-->'''Dilios''': Brave amateurs. They do their part.* {{Hypocrite}}: Leonidas criticizes Athenians as "boy-lovers." Spartans were even more committed to pederasty, the relationship between adult men and adolescent boys, than the other Greek city-states. This was intentional.* HypocriticalHumor: When Xerxes wants to negotiate:-->'''Leonidas''': [talking with his mouth full] Besides, there is no reason we cannot be civil, is there?\\'''Artemis''': [finishing off a wounded Persian] None, sire.%% All the talk about why Leondias turned away Ephialtes is on the Analysis page. Do not re-add it here. * ILikeThoseOdds: At the end, just before the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Plataea Battle of Plataea]], Dilios points out that though the Persians number 120,000, they are scared out of their minds. "The enemy outnumbers us a paltry three-to-one, ''good odds for any Greek!''"* InsistentTerminology: Leonidas is always referred to as being at the front regardless of his actual position, and always having 300 Spartans at his back even after some have been killed or left.* InstantOracleJustAddWater: A meta-example. The oracle's surreal dancing was achieved by filming the actress underwater. * IronicEcho: "This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this."* IsThatTheBestYouCanDo: [[Creator/MichaelFassbender Stelios]] shouts the trope name ''ad verbatim'' at the first wave of Persian footmen as they hopelessly try to break the Spartan phalanx.* ISurrenderSuckers: At the end Leonidas does a PoseOfSupplication, duping King Xerxes into thinking that he was surrendering, while in actuality Leonidas only gathered his strength before the final battle.* ItsAllAboutMe: Ephialtes gives up The Greeks' position to Xerxes because Leonidas would not let him join them in battle. Forgetting for a moment Leonidas denied him for practical considerations only, (Ephialtes is ''severely'' physiologically deformed, and even then the king still suggested ways he could make himself useful) he essentially sells out all three-hundred men over this one 'slight.'* ItsWhatIDo: Leonidas explains to the Arcadians that despite having a numerically smaller force, he brought more soldiers then they did.* KarmaHoudini: We never see the Ephors punished for selling out their country. It might be presumed that, once corruption in the Senate was discovered, it could be traced back to them. * KarmicDeath: Queen Gorgo was awesome enough to [[spoiler:shank Theron (by surprise) with a borrowed sword some time after he requires a sex-bribe from her, complete with the IronicEcho mentioned above.]]* KneelBeforeZod: Xerxes demands that Leondias kneel to him as part of his sign of submission. Leonidas replies that he's killed so many of Xerxes' soldiers that his knee is locked up. * LargeAndInCharge: Xerxes is the biggest Persian and the emperor.* LargeHam: 300 of them. The largest by far is, of course, Leonidas.* LastStand: For the 300 Spartans in this film and real life. * LeaveNoSurvivors--> '''Captain:''' No prisoners!\\'''Leonidas:''' No mercy!* LecherousLicking: A deformed priest voluptuously licks the young female oracle's neck and face before receiving her message about the fall of Sparta.* LikeRealityUnlessNoted: Averted, which many of the people criticizing the film were not aware of.* LoinCloth: This+BadassCape=Spartan casual wear. * LoopholeAbuse: Leonidas legally cannot send his army to fight the Persians. So, [[BlatantLies he decides to just take a walk]]. [[IWasJustPassingThrough To the Hot Gates]]. [[RefugeInAudacity With 300 bodyguards]].* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: According to Leonidas, it will also protect the soldier to my left. This is historically accurate, considering all the Spartans were trained as heavy-infantry hoplites who were specifically designed with the intention of being deployed in phalanx formations.* MadeOfIron: ** The Spartans don't need armor because [[WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesofHistory their abs are harder.]]** The GiantMook that Leonidas fights during the Immortals' assault takes this to an even crazier level, casually removing a [[http://www.swordskingdom.com/300-movie-king-leonidas-spartan-sword.html spartan sword]] stabbed all the way through the muscles of his upper arm and continuing without any real sign of discomfort or impaired ability.* MadeOfPlasticine: The Persians go down easily. * MajorInjuryUnderreaction: "It's just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare."* McNinja: The Immortals look like ninjas with their black face masks and vaguely Japanese swords.* MistakenForQuake: The approach of the Persian army makes the earth tremble, and [captain guy] thinks for a moment an earthquake is happening. * MonstrousHumanoid: A number of the Persians. The Immortals are visualized as some undefined race of humanoid monsters with killer teeth. The Persian executioner is an obese, terribly deformed bald man with blades for arms.* {{Mooks}}: Every Persian soldier exists in this film to be killed by a Spartan. * MrFanservice: ** The Spartans. There's a reason why this movie is considered girl porn.** There's a particular shot with Leonidas naked from behind, which means you can see his (''very'' muscular) butt.* MsFanservice: Most of Lena Headey's and The Oracle's attire reveal more skin than clothe it.* MutualKill: At the end, Captain Artemis is speared by s [[{{Mooks}} Persian footsoldiers]]. He grabs the shafts, brings them closer to him, and plunges his sword into each spearman. [[/folder]]

[[folder: [=N–R=]]]* NarratorAllAlong: Dilios, in his role of retelling the story as a morale-boosting tale.* NeverMyFault: Ephialtes blames Leonidas for crushing his dreams of being a Spartan, despite the fact that Leonidas very patiently, and very ''kindly'', explains to him that the reason that he won't let Ephialtes fight is because he can't hold his shield up, which will create a weak spot in the phalanx.* NeverWasThisUniverse: While Dilios' tale could be counted as pure exaggeration for the sake of drama, the last shot show's that Spartan's ''do'' dress like that for battle and ''fight'' as he describe it, instead of the barely straining explanations [[StopHavingFunGuys more serious historical experts keep giving about how the movie should really be done]].* NoIndoorVoice: Gerard Butler screams about half his lines in the film. In the comic, Leonidas' dialogue is not drawn as yelling quite so often. * NotEvenHuman: Used in one of the scenes where the Spartans are fighting the Immortals. A Spartan rips off an Immortal's mask to reveal that they're not human.* NoOSHACompliance: The missing safety railing around Sparta's well is asking for trouble.* OffWithHisHead: [[spoiler:Astinos]] and the Uber-Immortal.* OneLiner: Plenty. Stelios's "Then we shall fight in the shade," Leonidas's [[MemeticMutation "This is SPARTA!"]], "Tonight we dine in Hell!", and "Come and get them!" The narrator Delios receives a slightly more subtle joke: When asked about his one eye, he replies, "It's only an eye. The gods saw fit to grant me a spare." Probably the most obvious one is Leonidas's comment that "There's no reason we can't be civilized" as his men butcher their wounded enemies. Spartans were expected to be able to express themselves in a concise, forceful and witty manner, which is where we get "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconic_humour Laconic humour]]."* OneManArmy: What every Spartan is trained to be. Every drop of Spartan blood costs the Persians at least one man.* OneSidedBattle: Three hundred Spartans and 700 Thespians versus several hundred thousand Persians. The Persians are overwhelmed in battle until the climax.* OnlySaneMan: Daxos the Arcadian is unnerved by the Spartans' [[AxeCrazy axe craziness]].* OnrushingArmy: Both the Spartans as well as the Persian forces like to charge into battle this way.* OutscareTheEnemy: A major theme.-->'''Leonidas''': You have many slaves, Xerxes, but few warriors. It won't be long before they fear my spears more than your whips.** Dilios summation of one part of the battle;-->'''Dilios''': Those behind cry "Forward"! Those in front cry [[AttackAttackRetreatRetreat "BACK!"]]* OpeningMonologue: Dilios describing TheSpartanWay.* PatrioticFervor: Dilios' purpose in telling the story.* PapaWolf: The Captain ''completely loses it'' [[spoiler: when his son is killed.]]* PowerWalk: Backed by the thumping anachronism of a track "Fever Dream."* PraetorianGuard: The Immortals are the personal guard of Xerxes.* ProudWarriorRace: Why are 300 Spartans more of a threat than ten thousand troops from other Greek cities? Because the other troops are bakers, potters, bankers, and other civilian professionals who've been conscripted into militia duty. The Spartans are something that had never been seen on Earth before: Full-time ''professional soldiers''.* PunctuatedForEmphasis: The iconic [[MemeticMutation "This! IS! SPARTA!"]]is the former TropeNamer. Gerard Butler really went the LargeHam route with the role. [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/This.Is.Sparta_GN.to.film.jpg The comic]] did not have the emphasis, so this was [[ThrowItIn something Butler added himself.]] He does the same for "Tonight! We dine! In hell!"* PullYourselfDownTheSpear: [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep The Captain]] is impaled by a Persian spearman and a couple of [[DualWield sword-wielding]] [[EliteMook Immortals]], but he hacks at the Immortals then pulls himself up the spear to finish off its (at this point terrified) wielder.* PyrrhicVictory: The Persians win in the technical sense but the tide has turned by the next battle. * TheQuisling: Ephialtes turns the tide of the battle in the Persians' favour by revealing a mountain pass that will allow them to outflank the Greek forces. The Persians also bribe the Spartan priests and a member of their senate to facilitate the Persian conquest. * RageHelm: The Immortals wear them.* RatedMForManly: To the extreme. Warning: this film will impregnate any non-protected viewers, be they men or women.* RealityIsUnrealistic: While exaggerated to the point of absurdity, a surprising amount has at least a seed of truth in it:** While their garb fell more towards RainbowPimpGear and BlingOfWar than toward ninja-like garb, and the facemask they wore(which not all accounts mention) is described as more akin to a bandana or ski mask, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortals_%28Persian_Empire%29 the Immortals]][[note]]The name is believed to be a mistranslation by Herodotus confusing the Persian name for the force, the Anûšiya ('companions'), with Anauša ('Immortals')[[/note]] were in fact the backbone of the Persian infantry. According to several accounts, when one of this units 10,000 soldiers was injured, killed, or fell ill he was immediately replaced. It should be obvious why [[EliteArmy 10,000 disciplined soldiers]] with [[WeHaveReserves deep reserves]] equipped with [[FragileSpeedster light armor and skilled in close combat]] specializing in [[ZergRush mass formation assaults]] was one of the most feared military units in the ancient world. ** While not used during the invasion of Greece, the Persian army did utilize elephants in combat, always accompanied by handlers from their region of origin experienced in training them. Alexander the Great's historians make many mentions of their use as mobile siege towers, and he considered the best method of handling them to be essentially the manner depicted in the film- exploiting elephant's tendency to panic in battle to scare them off cliffs or through the ranks of soldiers behind them. ** At various times many historical armies also attempted to field other creatures, like rhinos, with about as much success as depicted in the film.** The "sorcerers" wielding grenades actually reflect a real weapon of war in use at the time. While true "GreekFire" and explosives would not be introduced until the middle ages, accounts of clay "grenades" filled with burning substances like oil, tar, and sulfur date back as far as records of Assyrian sieges in the 9th century BC.** The part about the disgruntled traitor showing the Persians the path through the mountains? He was a poor rural resident of the area hoping to get some sort of reward by welcoming his new Persian overlords. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephialtes_of_Trachis In Greece calling someone an Ephialtes is akin to calling them a "Benedict Arnold" or a "Quisling", and is also a euphamism for nightmare.]] * ARealManIsAKiller: If you're not killing someone, then you fail Sparta forever. This was basically TruthInTelevision in Spartan culture, although it's exaggerated here. (Of course, we're not sure how accurate the historical accounts are, either.)* RefugeInAudacity: Leonidas' plan to use LoopholeAbuse to get around the fact he legally ''can't'' go to War. He's simply going for a walk, perhaps to the Hot Gates, whilst accompanied by 300 [[BlatantLies "bodyguards"]]. …what's illegal about ''that''?!* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Artemis' response to his son's death provides the greatest example.* RousingSpeech: Dilios gives a magnificent one to the combined Greek army at Platea just before the credits roll.* RuleOfCool: The producer of the film is on record as saying, "I don't want anything in this film that isn't COOL."[[/folder]]

[[folder: [=S–Y=]]]* SandalPunk: The Persian army includes wizards armed with grenades and elite Ninja warriors.* SarcasticClapping: After Queen Gorgo finishes her speech before the Spartan council, the corrupt Theron mockingly applauds her before he tries to discredit her to his colleagues with claims of adultery.* SavageWolves: Young Leonidas kills a ''monster'' of a wolf in the opening flashback. In accordance with the narrator's exaggerations, the creature looks more like a shaggy black '''tiger''' than an actual wolf.* SayMyName: Artemis does this, immediately followed by a BigNo just before Astinos is beheaded.* ScarpiaUltimatum: Theron's offer to Queen Gorgo goes like this: "Have sex with me and I will help you convince the senate to send reinforcements to your husband."* ScaryBlackMan: Xerxes is portayed in this fashion, with Brazillian actor Creator/RodrigoSantoro's skin having been darkened for the role.* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Unlike the Spartans, most of the other Greek forces decide to withdraw when they discover they've been outflanked by the Persians, who have discovered the hidden goat-path and are moving to surround them.* {{Sexposition}}:** In the beginning of the film, there's an exposition where a nude young woman is basically molested by some of the ugliest creatures you've ever seen.** Then, the above scene is reversed when TheMole goes to Xerxes and is tempted by Xerxes unleashing hordes of sex slaves to pleasure him, despite his deformed appearance.* TheShadowKnows: In the destroyed village, when the young boy approaches Leonidas to tell him about the Persian attackers, his shadow's shape is that of a Persian Immortal.* ShedArmorGainSpeed: At the climax, Leonidas takes off his helmet and drops his shield [[spoiler:to give himself the mobility needed for his final DefiantStoneThrow]].* ShootTheMessenger: Almost a RunningGag; Persian messengers have a low life expectancy. * ShoutOut:** The movie actually uses many accurate quotes from the battle, which were recorded by Ancient Greek historians. Sometimes it shifts around the context in which the quotes are given slightly, but otherwise they're arguably one of the most accurate things about the film.*** When the Persians demanded the the Spartans lay down their weapons, the ''real'' Leonidas did defiantly respond, "Come and take them!" ("Molon labe" in Greek, though the film translates it as "Come and get them!").*** In the film, a Persian emissary warns that their army is so vast that their arrows will blot out the sun, to which a Spartan soldier glibly responds that they will therefore "fight in the shade". This exchange ''really'' happened, though the film invented the part about the Spartan soldier cutting the envoy's arm off. *** The quote the Delios gives at the end as the camera shows the dead bodies of Leonidas and his men on the battlefield is the ''actual'' epitaph that was written on the memorial the Greeks built there after the war ended (wording varies a bit by translation). *** The real-life Spartans actually did throw Persian envoys into a well when they asked for earth and water as a symbol of Sparta's submission, noting that there was plenty down the well (though the movie loosely adapts the sequence of events around it). *** It was actually a common saying among Spartan women to tell departing warriors to "return with your shield, or on it" (either return victorious, or return as a corpse carried back on your large shield by other soldiers, never surrender). ** The wedge formation the Spartans use at one point is from the earlier ''300 Spartans'' movie which inspired Frank Miller.** "Those behind cry Forward! Those in front cry Back!" is very similar to a line of the famous poem ''Horatius at the Bridge'', which described a similar YouShallNotPass event in Roman history.** At the end, Captain Artemis is [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice run through with a spear]], but he drags himself along its length to kill the soldier who did it. As this doesn't appear in the comic, Snyder said this was a homage to KingArthur fighting Mordred in ''Film/{{Excalibur}}'', one of his favorite films.* ShutUpHannibal: "This! IS! SPARTA!" is the most famous. Leondias gives plenty more.%%* SidelongGlanceBiopic* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Goodies on the Idealist side, baddies on the Cynical side (specially Theron) but they are NOT! Pacifist! Idealists!%% * SloMo* SmugSnake: Theron is so sure he has Gorgo and the senate under control. [[spoiler: The look on his face when Gorgo shanks him is priceless.]]** The Persian ambassador, for a man who is supposed to be a diplomat, (and so, you know, ''diplomatic'') clearly does not know how to read the atmosphere, or when to just ''[[TooDumbToLive stop running his mouth...]]''* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler: Dilios]] for the 300, whom Leonidas sends away before the final stand against the Persians both because he is sincerely injured and because [[spoiler: [[ChekhovsSkill he is a great orator and storyteller.]]]]* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil: Noted by Dilios as a valid tactic. He chastises Xerxes for sending his best men in while the Spartans are still fresh.* TheSpartanWay: Showcased in the beginning with Leonidas's upbringing: burtal sparring, surviving in the wild, killing a wolf with a sharp stick, etc.** The Japanese dub during the famous ''This is Sparta!'' line says this line ''literally'', courtesy of his [[Creator/JojiNakata voice actor]].* StayInTheKitchen: The Persian Ambassador hits Gorgo with this, which pisses Leonidas off right away. This is TruthInTelevision, given the relative standards of the time and locale, Sparta was practically a feminist enclave.* {{Stripperiffic}}: All the Greeks wear little. Xerxes, too.* StealthInsult: Leonidas' statement to Ephialtes after the latter's betrayal, "May you live forever," doesn't sound like an insult at first. It could be taken to mean that Ephialtes will never get the glory of an honorable death in battle. It could also mean that Ephialtes will "live forever" by always being remembered as a traitor. In fact, to this day in modern-day Greece, "Ephialtes" carries the same connotation that calling someone a "Benedict Arnold" would in the US.* SwordFight: Leonidas vs Uber-Immortal.* TakeThat: Leonidas gets one aimed at Ephialtes. As the latter faces the former whilst the Persians are about to attack, Leonidas tells him, "May you live forever." This implies that Ephialtes will never know the glorious death in battle that Spartans highly value, as well as that his betrayal will be remembered throughout the generations. Leonidas essentially gave him the verbal equivalent of the finger. From Ephialtes' reaction, he takes it as such as well.* ThanatosGambit: Leonidas' plan is to force Sparta into war using his death. * UnderestimatingBadassery: Xerxes' massive ego causes him to learn this the hard way, realising far too late, that despite their reputation as savages, the Spartans are clearly [[GeniusBruiser stronger and far more intelligent]] than they let on. The fact that a token force of 300 individuals somehow are managing to hold out for over 3 days against an overwhelming force of tens of thousands of men… yeah. Made worse that he ''still'' doesn't realise that Leonidas' plan is ''clearly'' for the Spartans to go out performing a LastStand, which will rally the rest of Greece into a ''furious'' horde against the Persian army.%%%% UnfortunateImplications goes on the YMMV tab, not here.%%* UnPerson: Xerxes threatens to do this to all of Sparta if Leonidas doesn't bow down to the King of Kings.* UnreliableNarrator: The whole movie is Dilios telling a campfire story to boost morale, and as Creator/FrankMiller said, he doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good story. More specifically, he even narrates parts he wasn't even present for (the ending of the battle, for instance). In each campfire scene he's in a different location as well, implying he's been embellishing it more with every retelling.* UnstoppableRage: The Captain flies into one of these [[spoiler: after his son is killed.]]* VaporWear: The oracle wears a very thin garmet. * VillainousBreakdown: Xerxes. In a most epic manner when Leonidas makes him bleed.* VillainousValor: The Persian herald who confronts the fully-armed Spartans at the pass and finds them building a wall mortared with the desecrated bodies of his countrymen fearlessly attacks the Greeks with nothing but a whip and, upon being [[AnArmAndALeg literally disarmed]] still keeps his dignity while shouting about the prowess of the Persian army.* WalkingShirtlessScene: Shirts are apparently outlawed for Spartan men. The film actually tones this down from the comic, where Spartans can be seen casually chilling out in the buff. [[TruthInTelevision Which is accurate to real life.]]* WarElephants: Used by the Persians, until they die of cliff.* WarIsGlorious: For the Spartans, it can't be otherwise.* WeatherOfWar: The Spartans catch an early break when some of Xerxes's ships are taken out by a massive thunderstorm.* WeCanRuleTogether: Xerxes tries to tempt Leonidas multiple times with making him Warlord of all Greece answerable only to the God-King himself if Leonidas and his army join the Persian ranks.* WeHaveReserves: The general mood among the Persians is that due to the sheer size of their army they can afford to sacrifice plenty of their troops to beat the Spartans, sending in wave after wave that all end in utter defeat. Xerxes declares that he would gladly kill off his own men for victory; Leonidas counters that he would [[AFatherToHisMen die for his own]].* WetForDry: The dance of the Delphi.* WhereDoYouThinkYouAre: Leonidas gently reminds the Persian messenger that things work a little differently in these parts.* WorldOfHam: THIS! IS! THAT! KIND OF! '''''MOVIE!!!'''''* YouHaveFailedMe: Xerxes orders a demonic executioner with saw blades for arms to decapitate one of his generals for failing to defeat the Spartans with a unit using primitive grenades.* YouHaveNoChanceToSurvive:--> '''Herald:''' By noon this day, you will be '''''dead men.'''''\\The thousand nations of the Persian Empire descend upon you! Our arrows… ''will blot out the sun!''\\'''Stelios:''' [[BadassBoast Then we will fight]] [[TruthInTelevision in the shade.]]* YouShallNotPass: TheMovie, basically. It's the purpose of the whole battle.[[/folder]]----